Are you dreaming of an intimate Mexico wedding elopement?
Soft white sand under your toes, the Caribbean waves gently crashing into the shore, as you and your best friend say “I Do!” in the warm Mexican sunshine.
Sounds nice, right?
But where do you begin to make this happen?
Well – eloping in Tulum, Mexico is much easier than you think.
We are Tulum elopement professionals, and we want to help make this easy and seamless for you. So let’s look at the simple, step-by-step process of planning a Tulum elopement.
1. Do you want to get legally married in Tulum?
The first decision to make when planning a Tulum elopement is asking yourselves if you want to have a civil (legal) ceremony or a symbolic (non-legal) ceremony.
What is the difference?
In a nutshell, a legal elopement in Mexico will require you to invest a bit more time and money.
What do you need for a legal marriage in Tulum?
- Passports, including copies, for both of you and FOUR witnesses
- Tourist cards (these are issued when you enter Mexico)
- Your birth certificates and copies
- Divorce or death certificates (You must be divorced for ONE year before re-marrying in Mexico)
- Blood test results, done no more than 15 days before your wedding day
- Marriage request form
Everything must be translated by a certified translator and notarized in Mexico. Then your ceremony must be performed by an officiant of the civil registry of the local municipality in Mexico.
I know, this sounds a bit overwhelming at first, but don’t worry, this is why we partner with amazing wedding planners! They will hold your hand through it all, and can even provide witnesses to sign the paperwork. (Contact us now to be connected with the best!)
*An important note: If you are a US citizen who wants to get legally married in Mexico, certain states will require your marriage certificate be translated into English to be recognized as legal. Find your state on the list here.
What do you need for a symbolic elopement in Tulum?
Rest assured, this is an easier option! The only thing a symbolic elopement requires is two people who are madly in love and want to exchange vows. The rest is just details.
So if you would rather not jump through all the hoops in Mexico, simply visit city hall in your hometown for the legal “I Do’s” and keep the paperwork in your home country.
And then in Tulum:
- Have anyone you want to officiate the ceremony, like a friend, a Mayan Shaman, or Yours Truly!
- No witnesses are necessary.
- Get married as soon as you arrive if you want! No time or date restrictions.
Our advice? Go with the option that feels good. And then whatever elopement you choose, legal or not, we can help. Contact us now.
2. What is your perfect Tulum elopement venue?
What style of Tulum wedding venue do you envision?
Do you picture sandy toes and salty kisses, or is a candlelit jungle setting more your style for an intimate elopement?
For you adventurous types, Tulum is a veritable playground for the wild at heart!
There are so many amazing options to choose from, but by Mexico’s nature, most people automatically think of all-inclusive wedding resorts when they think of getting married in Tulum. These can be a fantastic option, because even during this pandemic, there are still loads of resorts open for business.
Why should you elope at an all-inclusive resort?
The biggest reason to choose an all-inclusive resort elopement is that everything is taken care of for you. You are assigned a wedding coordinator, and they take care of the rest. Bada-bing Bada-boom!
Why shouldn’t you elope at an all-inclusive resort?
The biggest downside to getting married at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico is that you will lose creative control over your own elopement. You will need to use the resort’s wedding employees, or be faced with an outside vendor fee, what they might call a ‘vendor penalty’.
In a nutshell, if you want to bring in your favorite photographer or hair and makeup artist onsite, you will be charged a hefty price to do so. Read more about Outside Vendor Fees and how to handle them.
These fees don’t make much sense when we are talking about a small, intimate wedding package.
So what do we recommend instead?
Stay wherever you choose – a resort, condo or boutique hotel – and then plan your Tulum elopement in a beautiful off-site location. Sure, an outside wedding venue will carry an additional cost, but so will the outside vendor fee at your resort.
What Tulum elopement venues are worth considering?
- a jungle cenote
- in a Tulum villa
- at a private bohemian beach club
- aboard a private boat charter
- scuba diving under the sea
And if budget is top of mind, you can always just say “I Do!” on a public beach near Tulum.
The world is your oyster! With the help of a fantastic, professional Tulum wedding planner to handle the details for you, a unique and unforgettable experience is guaranteed!
Do you want to explore your off-resort wedding venue options in Tulum? Contact us now. We can help.
3. What Tulum elopement décor do you envision?
When you picture yourself saying “I Do!” in Tulum, are you standing under a boho-chic wedding arch as the salty breeze rustles tropical flowers or delicate fabrics?
If that’s a YES! then you will be happy to know that anything is possible with Tulum weddings – you just need to pick the right venue to accommodate your vision. (See above)
Those dreamy beach wedding photos with elegant or rustic décor that you drool over on Instagram are most definitely taken on the property line of a Tulum beach club or hotel. You can only set up an arch or cozy boho picnic reception on private beach property.
But if you hope to keep it simple on Playa Paraiso, the beautiful public beach, just know that you cannot have decor or furniture. The first 20 meters from the shoreline in Mexico is all federal property and is public beach. Although a short, sweet barefoot elopement with no frills is super easy, just know that you cannot have an arch, furniture or décor elements on federal property.
In a Playa Paraiso elopement, you can still hold a bouquet, cut a cake, and pop the champagne, but for anything more than that, you should reserve a private wedding venue to avoid problems with the local authorities.
Our Tulum elopement decor tip!
Don’t go buying anything on Etsy before you have nailed down your wedding venue. It would be a shame if anything was to go to waste!
Besides, we have lovely local wedding vendors we love and trust who can create whatever elopement decor you dream of. Then the only item you will need to pack and travel with is your wedding dress.
4. Do you want wedding guests when you elope in Tulum?
Eloping used to mean secretly getting married, just the two of you. But the rules have changed and so have the Do’s and Dont’s of elopement etiquette.
Of course, your elopement can be just the two of you, but you can also share the moment with a select few loved ones who support you. If you keep your guest list to under ten people, that allows you to get married at any Tulum elopement venue you want, without the hassle of permits.
When should you invite guests to an elopement?
Would your family be devastated to not be invited to share your wedding day?
Do you want someone you love to officiate your ceremony?
If you answered yes to either question, then you should consider a few wedding guests at your elopement.
When should you not invite guests to an elopement?
Do you hope to avoid any family drama?
Will your loved ones support your decision to elope alone?
Is a last-minute trip your style?
If these are a ‘Yes!’ then a guest-free wedding is a great fit for you.
Our suggestion? Minimize stress by telling people you are eloping with just the two of you. Then throw a big party at home to celebrate with everyone you love once social distancing is a thing of the past!
5. How many hours with a Tulum Photographer or Videographer will you need?
At the end of all this planning, is there anything more important than capturing the special moments of your wedding day?
Any former bride will tell you that photos and/or video coverage of your elopement is the MOST important decision you will make. Without smartphones or loved ones to share the moment with you, professional photos or a romantic film are the best way to share your Tulum wedding when the day has come and gone.
But how many hours should you hire a Photographer and/or Videographer for?
To give you a ballpark idea of your basic needs, our Tulum elopement photography and videography packages start with coverage of approximately one hour. An hour is enough to capture the meat and potatoes if your budget is tight.
We recommend Tulum photo and video elopement packages of two hours if you want several different backdrops, like the most amazing Tulum Instagram spots, bohemian streets, lush tropical jungle, and of course, endless powdery-white beach locations.
Three to four hours of coverage will allow you to tell more of the story of your day, like the final moments of getting ready, or a romantic candlelit dinner.
Consider adding dramatic drone photography and videography to give you a whole different perspective on your adventure.
What unique Tulum elopement elements should you consider?
When searching for the best Tulum videographer, choose a team that can offer you a live stream of your elopement ceremony, that way any friends and family who could not share the big moment can actually ‘be there’ as you say your vows.
Or negotiate a quick turn around on a thirty-second video highlight you can use on your Instagram feed and on social media. Your friends will go nuts!
Yes, we can help with this too! Contact us now for more information.
A destination wedding elopement in Mexico is easy to plan by following the five simple steps above, and by letting us here at Fun In The Sun Weddings help you take care of the rest.
We wish you the best of luck on your elopement adventure, and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us directly, or comment below.
Would you like to learn more about Fun In The Sun Weddings?
- Go to our Wedding Photography Service Page now.